Traffic-signal for automobiles



A. WIYFERNANS.

1 TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27 1919;

Z o m. M w 9 7 1 2 7 M fig an W m m m h Agwx FERNANS. TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

3 Sh[ETS-SHEET 2! A W. FERN/WIS TRAFFiC SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

'APFLICATION HLED DEC 27,19l9.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3- ANTHONY W. FERNANS, OF PAWTI TCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

TRAFFIC-SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

assaao.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2'7, 1920.

Application filed. December 27, 1919. Serial No. 347,742.

To all whom it may concern ie it known that I, ANTHo IY \Vf' Fini- NANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, in the county of Provi" dence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trafliosignals for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the art of trailic signals and particularly to the type espe cially adapted for use in connection with automobiles, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a signal to indicate to an operator of an automobile at the rear whether the chaul'l'eur of the automobile in front intends to turn either to the right or to the left, or to display a red signal to indicate the intention of stopping or to indicate the intention to go forward.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for operating the trafiic signals, and means connecting said mechanism and the horn for operating the same, so that pedestrians may be notified which direction the automobile will take.

A further object of the invention is to providea signaling horn having connections with the operating mechanism for the sig nals at the-rear so that the horn may be sounded or-operated before turning to the right or to the left, or before signaling danger, which is at the time of applying the brakes, or before starting forward, it being obvious to the chauffeur of the auto-- mobile at the rear that when the signals of the automobile in front are returned to their initial positions, it is the intention of the chauffeur of the forward automobile to proceed forward.

While the design and construction at pres- I out illustrated and set forth are deemed pref- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of a mobile, for instance sufficient to illustrate the diagrammatic supports for various parts of the signal mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. p I Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the housing or boring 18 showing the operating lever 36, and its connections to be connected to the various signal members, also showing the foot operated lever 76;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the housing 18.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the operating lever 36 and-its connecting rods.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the housing 3 and the various signal blades 6, 7 and 8 and showing their con-- nections.-

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates a conventional form of automobile to the rear of the body 2 ofwhich a housing 3 is supported by means of the bracket 4c. This housing is preferably constructed as that shown, though not necessarily," and pivotally mounted in the housing on the pin is a plurality of direction indicators 6, 7 and 8. The direction indicators 6 and 7 are colored blue and white respectively, indicating'right and left, the,

former having a rectangular end portion,

and the latter an arrow shaped end head, portion. The indicator 8 is colored red and has a head portion preferably circular in form, though not necessarily This ]1):fl1-

cator, when displayed, discloses danger, in. other words, that it is the intention of the chauffeur of'the automobile to apply the brakes. In fact the display of the red indicator discloses the fact that "the brakes have been applied. I

Any suitable signaling horn Qeither electrically or mechanically operated, preferably mechanically operated, thou h not necv essarily, is carried by the. automobile for in-. stance under the-hood. This horn s open.

roonrfor the housing 18,

ated when either one of the right and left indicators is dis layed, and may he operated manually without manipulating either one of the direction indicators. but at the time of applying the brakes, at which time the red or danger signal is dis'playeijl. However, it is not necessary to operate the horn at this time, but if it desired by the chauffeur to do so, it can be accomplished without operating the indicators.

Pivotally mounted on the frame of the automobile as at 10 is a lever 1'1. one end of which has a slot and pin connection 12 with. a. rod or member 13. which connected to and operates" the horn in anysuitable manner (not shown). that is to say when the lever 11 is oscillated. This lever ii is located under the casing of the body of the automobile. and under the hood 1,6.

Mounted in any suitable manner between the inner and outer walls of the side adjacent the upper edge thereof of the body of the automobile is-a boxing or housing 118. It is possible that the space between the inner and outer walls of the side of an a utomobile is not wide enough to receive a housing, of suflicient size to carry the operating lever 36 and its connections with the signal members, bearing in mind that it may be desiredv to apply the signal ap1 aratus to an automobile now in use. In this case. the housing may be attached to the exterior of one side, though not necessarily, near the upper edge of the side, and it may be attached to tlie inner face of one side of the body of an automobile. if the housing be attached to the exterior of the body of an automobile, then the operative coni'iections etween the operating lever 36 and the levers and 4L6 may remain exposed, though not necessarily, for it is obvious that a housing can-be constriuted over the operative connections, and to the exterior face of the side of the automobile body. If the housing should. be attached to the ,interior face of the side of the body. the operative connections between the lever 30 and the bell crank levers l5 and i6 may remain exposed. However, in this instance. a casing may be placed over the operative connections for housing the same. Preferably the housing 18 is designed to be placed between the inner and outer walls of the side of the body. as previously stated when manufacturing the automobile body. However, when ]')lacin; the housing in this position. it is necessary to bulge either the inner wall or the outer wall at the point where the housing is to be placed so as to make sullicient room to receive the housing. In the present instance. the outer wall of the side of the automobile body is bulged outwardly, so as to make and it is to be un derstood that the applicant is not to be coning lever is moved laterally metal bent to provide a bottom 19 and forward, rear and side walls 2-0, 2-1., and A flanged cover 24: 1s titted over the housing or boxing to hold the forward, rear and side walls in position. The cover 2% is provided with. an opening which iIlCllll'lGSfOI'WtlCl and rear extension slots 2G and 27 and the lateral extension slots '28 and 29. The bottom of'the housing or boxing is provided with a plurality of circular openings 30, 31, 3'12 and 33. These openings 30 to 33 inclusive are positioned to axially aline with the ends of the extension slots 26-29 inclusive. The forward and near walls of the housing or boxing are provided with elongated elliptical slots 34L and v An operating lever 36 mounted in the housingor boxing; and it comprises a base portion or plate 37 and the handle 38. The

base portion or plate 3'2 comprises forward, rearand side arms 39 l0, 4-1 and 42. The forward and rear arms 38) and ill have trunnions l3, which engage the lower ends of the slots 3i and 35 of the forward and rear walls of the boxing or housing 18. By mounting the operating lever in the housing in this manner. it is capable of being rocked either forward. rearwan'dlv or laterally in either direction, for the an that the handle 38 can move into eit. one of the extension slots 26. 27, :28 and 3.29. The slots 34: and are made elliptical so as to permit play of the pintles or trunnions i3, when the operat in either direction.

As a rule there is suthcient space between the side rails and the chassis of an automobile and. the sheet metal side of the body to house an operating mechanism for the direction indicators. Therefore, preferably pivoted to the outside face of the left hand rail or side of the chassis as at ll, is a pair of hell crank levers and "l6. Pivotally connected to the arms ll and are rods $8 and all), the lower extremities of which terminate in loops 50 and ELwhich have sliding connections with the pins 52 respectively car ried by the links 52, waich are connected to the-bell crank levers and 46 as at 4:6. The lever 11. at its rear end is provided with a transverse pin 53. which engages the elongated loop 54, particularly at its lower end. lVhen the operating lever is moved rearwardly or laterally in either direction, the

lever 11 will be oscillatxd which in turn will so that when the operating lever 36 is tilted to the rear, the lever 11 will he oscillated. Also pivoted to the outer face of the;

Springs 64 connect to the bell crank levers.

l5 and 46 and in turn to a pin of the side of the chassis so-as to hold the notched ends of the bellcrank levers and 46 in engage 4 ment with the bell crank levers 60 and 61.

Pivoted at 65 is a plurality of levers 68, 69 and 70, certain arms of which are ,con-

nected by the links 71, 72 and 73 .to the direction and danger indicators 6, 7 and 8.

The links74 and 75 are connected pivotally to certain other arms of the levers 68 and 69,

and these links or rods 74'and 75 are in turn pivotally connected to the levers 60 and 61. A conventionalform of brake lever 76 is pivotally mounted-on the frame of, the automobile and is under tension of the spring 77, so as to hold it in initial position. An oscillatory lever 78 is pivotally mounted at 79 on the frame of the automobile and its upper arm 66 has a rod connection 80 with the foot brake lever 76. A link or rod 81 is pivotally connected to the lower arm 72 which is mounted pivotally and axially with the pivot rod 79 of the lever 78. In other words, the arms 66 and 72 are offset rom each other, so that the lever 78 may be row nected to the conventional form of oot brake lever, which is located near the center of the body of the car. The arm "(2 is arranged toward the left hand end of the rod 79 so that the link or rod 81 can be connected to the arm 83 of the lever 70. It will be noted that when the foot brake lever 76 is applied, the lever 78 will be oscillated, which in turn will oscillate the bell crank lever 70, which will actuate to display the danger signal or indicator, and at the same time with the display of this indicator, the usual brake mechanism of the automobile will be applied. a

A rod 84 is pivotally connected to the arm 40 of the base of the operating lever 36 and this rod 84 is in turn pivotally connected at its lower end to the lever 85. One end of the lever 85 is provided with atransversely extending? pin 86, the lateral ends of which Sl'lPPOl't the bell crank levers and 61, that iswhen they arereleased fromengagement with the notches of the levers 45 and 46. It jwill be noted that the lever 86 is so pivotally mounted as at 86 that when theoperating lever 36 is oscillated forwardly, a pulling action will be imparted to the rod 84 which will cause the lever 85 to move pivotally upwardly, causing the lateral ends of the pins 86 to reset the bell crank levers 60 and 61 to their initial positions in engagement with the notches of the bell crank levers 45 and 46.

When the operating lever 36 is moved to the right, the base of the operating lever will rock in the boxing or housing upon its trunnion's 43. W hen the base of said lever is to be operated, a pulling action is imparted v the rod 49 so that the lower end of the loop 51 will pull against the pin 52, oscillating the bell crank lever 46 disengaging its notch fret contact with the lever 61 'lhrough the action of one of the springs 62',

the bell crank lever 61 will be oscillated rearwardlycausing a pushing action to be imparted to the rod 74 so oscillating the lever 68 asto cause it to actuate the blue indicator so as to cause it to project from the housing, thereby displaying its color, indicating that the chauffeur of the automobile intends to turn to the right. In other words, when'the blue arrow is displayed it points to the right and indicates to the chauffeur behind that the chauffeur in front intends toturn to the right.

When the operating 37 moved to the left, a pulling action is imparted upon the rod 48 which will cause an oscillatory movement of the bell crank lever 45 disengaging its notch from contact with the lever 60. The spring connected to the lever 60 will move the lever rearwardly impartinga pushing action upon the rod, 7 5 so oscillating the lever 69 as to cause the direction indicator colored white to be displayed, in-

i. dicating'that the chauffeur of the automolever toward the direction to be taken, the

white arrow indicating the leftand the blue arrow or square indicating the right.

"l lThcn either one of the direction indicators has been displayed and it is desiredto restore the operating parts thereof to their initial positions, the operating lever 36 may be oscillated forwardly causing the rod 84 to actuate the lever 85 so as to restore one, of the. arms of either'of the bell'crank levers 60 and 61 in engagement with its respective notch 63 of one of the bell crank levers 45 and 46 While it is true that both right and left indicators are not operated at the same time, nevertheless it is possible that the wrong indicator may be operated acciden tally. In such an instance, it is possible for the chauffeur, before restoring the indicator which. has been operated by mistake, may

operate the indicator to show the proper direction the chauileur intends to take, therefore in such an instance both indi ators will have become opeatedt and when it desired to restore both indicatm's, the operating lever 236 may be moved or oscillated for .wardly which 'Vlll manipulate the lever T5,

and cause the restoration oi both indicators. after which the indicator .t'or disclosing the proper direction may be actuated. I

,The rods and 4. above the elongated loops 50 and 51 are provided'with additional loops 50' and the lower crotchesoi which are engaged by the lateral lugs 51." ot the lever 1]. It will be noted that the lateral lugs 31 extend axially from opposite sides of the lever ll nair one end. while the lateral pins 52 ot the links 52 e tend laterally and a re disposed substantially midi-way the-loops :50 and 51. so as to permit the born to be sounded before the indicators are released. When the controlling lever 36 is moved toward the lett a pulling action is imparted upon the rod l8 which pulls upon one of the lugs 51", thereby pulling upon one of the links 5'2 so as to tilt the lever The movement of the rod 4h causes a tiltiiiig movement of the lever 1'11 and allows the controlling lever 36 the benetit of a full sweep. The pin 53 of the lever ll will slide upwardly iartially in the loop of the rod 56. When the ()PQl'titlllgI lever 5 36 is manipulated to attain this result. the

bottom of: the loop does not engage the lateral pin 52 ot the linlc (which connected to the bell crank lever l5) until the rod 4-8 is nearl at the limit of its upward movement as it is only ll':.(t.S-S2ll to tilt the bell c'nnk lever 4-5 sniiicient to disengage one otits arms from the bell. c 'anlt lever (31!.

The sameopnrations of corresponding parts. nannily those comic-(ted to the rod l5) w ll' he pcrbrined;when the operating lever 3t) is moved to the left. 4 inn lever 36 rearwardly. the horn lever 11 is oscillated. in which a pulling: action is imparted on the lateral pin 53. as the pin ea the bottom of the loop therely ng the lever ll to operate the horn.

w ll hen it is desired to operate'the horn. the operating lever ill} ina'v be oscillated rearwardly and through the medium ot the rod 56 which ci-mnected. to the lever 1L the.

linlv or od 13-5 may be actuated. to operate the horn, ivithtait operatmt either one of the direction indicators.

It is to he iu'uilerstood that when the direction indi rators are restored to their ini tialpositions. it imlicatcs to the chanileur of an automobile at the rear. that the chati'enr of the automobile in front intends to i- 'oceed forwardly. in other words. the act of restorimg either one Oil the direction indicators, is designed to be taken as a siglly moving the operatnal that it is the chautleurs intention to proceed forwardly. \i'hen the direction indicators are restored to their initial position at the time the 'autonmhile is to proceed. forwardly. the horn 'is actuated simultaneously therewith thereby signaling to the pe' destrians that the autonmbile is ready to proceed forward.

The hell c rank levers l5 and i6, when either one or both have been actuated, are supported upon a pin 86.

When the chanlleur has displayed either one of the direction indicators, therelyindicatinn' that it is the intention to turn the automobile to thelet't or to the right. itv the aim to stop the automobile before turning to the right or to the left. to avoid an accident, and the chauti'eu" applies the footb 'alte. the red indicator is automatically displayed indicating danger. This signal is at the rear of the two direction indiaitors and is the only one seen when displayed. regardless of either one of the direction indifators displayed as it covers the direction indicators.

At night an oil or an electric lamp may be used to throw the 'ays on either one of the indicators or upon the danger indicator. This lamp may be mounted above the mi d guard so that the 'ays may strike directly on the signals.

The invention having; been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:---

i. In a tratlic signal as set (orth, the com bination with right and le'tt direction indi cators of. a signaling horn including an opcratimr lever therefor. a mechanism opera lively connected to the right and left direction iinlicatorst and means connected to parts oi" said niecluinisin and to said operating lever oi the horn. whereby the horn may be sounded lmi'ore the display of either one of the indimtors.

in a trallic signal as set forth, the com bination with right and left direction indicators. of a signaling horn including an operating: lever therefor, a mechanism opera-- tively connectedto the right and left di rcction indicators imeans connected to parts at said. mechanism and to said. operating; lever oi the horn. whereby the horn may be sounded before the display of either one of the indicators. and means actuated by the last mentioned means for restoring certain of the parts of said mechanism to their ini- -tial positions. thereby restoring the direcc 'anlt'leveru adapted-to be actuated to dis play one or'both'of the signals, and an Zoscillatory ;lever provided with depending rods having loose loop connections with said bell crank levers, so that when the oscillating lever is moved, either one of the bell crank levers may be allowed to oscillate slightly to release said mechanism, allowing the signal to be displayed.

4;. In a traflic signal, the combination with right and left direction indicators mounted at, the rear of the automobile, of a spring tensioned mechanism operatively connected to the direction indicators respectively, said spring tensioned mechanism. including bell crank levers adapted to be actuated to per mit one of the signals to be displayed, and anvoscillatory lever provided with depending rods having loose loop connections with said bell crank levers, so that when the oscillating lever is moved, either one of the bell crank levers may be allowed to oscillate slightly to. release said mechanism, allowing the signal to be displayed, a horn including an actuating member therefor and means connected to said actuating member and in turn having-loose connections with said rods, whereby when the oscillating lever is moved in either direction laterally, the horn actuating member will oscillate and sound the ,horn before the direction indicator is displayed.

as ,to the direction indicators respectively, said spring tensioned mechanism including bell 5. In a traffic signal, the combination with right and left direction indicators mounted at the rear of the automobile, of a spring tensioned mechanism operatively connected crank levers adapted'to be actuated to permit one of the signals to be displayed, and an oscillatory lever provided with depending rods having loose loop connections with said bell crank levers, so that when the oscillating lever is moved, either one of the bell crank levers may be allowed to oscillate slightly to release said mechanism, allowing the signal to be displayed, a horn including an actuating member therefor and means connected tosaid actuating member and in turn having loose connections with said rods, whereby when the oscillating lever 1s moved in eltherdirection laterally, the horn actuating member will oscillate and sound the horn before the direction indicator is displayed, means connecting the oscillating lever and the means connected to t e horn operating member, whereby when the oscillating lever is tilted rearwardly the horn may be operated without actuating the direction indicators.

6. In a traffic signal, the combination with right and'ieft direction indicators carried by the rear end of the automobile, spring 'tensioned bell crank levers operativelyconnected to said right and left indicators, a second pair of hell crank levers cooper- ,levers, whereby as the oscillating lever is moved to the right or to the left, one of the second bell crank levers may be oscillated to release its respective spring tensioned bell crank lever, allowing the proper indicator to be displayed, a pivoted lever on the frame of the automobile and having its lower end provided with a lateral pin, the opposite ends of which being adapted to be engaged by and support the first bell crank leversjto limit them in their movement, and a con nection between said oscillating lever and the pivoted lever forrestoring the first bell crank levers, when tilted forwardly.

7; In a traflic signal, the combination with right and left direction'indicators carried the oscillating lever is by the rear end of the automobile, springtensioned bell crank levers operatively connected to said right and left indicators, a second pair of bell crank levers. cooperatively connecting with the first bell crank levers to hold them set against the action of the spring tensioned means to hold the direction indicators in their initial position, an oscillating lever provided with depending rods havingloose loop and pin connections with the second pair of bell crank levers, whereby as the oscillating lever is moved to the right o'r to the left, one of thesecond bell crank levers may be oscillated to release its'respective spring tensioned bell crank lever, allowing the proper indicator to bedisplayed, a lever pivoted on lower end provided with a lateral pin, the opposite ends of which being adapted to 'be engaged by and support the first bell in crank-levers to limit'them in their movement,

and'a connection between said oscillating lever and the pivoted lever for restoring the first bell cranklevers, when the oscillating lever is tilted forwardly, ahorn having. an

. 5' I the frame of the automobile and having its the direction indicators is oscillated, or when the indicator is restored to initial position, the horn may be previously sounded.

' 8. In a traflic signal asset forth, the combination with right and left direction indicators,'of an audible signal including operating lever therefor, an operating mechanism connecting the right and left indicators and the audible signal, a single operating element, and means connecting said Cir:

na.ech.misni having spring tensioned ele-- rahty of parts of said mechanism, whereby said lever may be operated and certain parts of the mechanism actuated to display the indicators a substantial time subsequently to .t sounding of the audible signal, and mca connecting the single element and certain other of said parts of said mecha nism to actuate said parts to restore them to initial position and the indicators to their normal positions.

ll). in a tra'liic signal as set forth, the con'ibination with right and left directigmindicators, of a mechanism operatirely connected to the llltlltltllol'lfi respectively, said.

meets, means for holding said elements set, and a s1 device connected. to and opereting sai one of the spring tensioned cleuu'nts to permit it to display its indicator.

11,111 :1 tratiic signal as set forth, the combination with right and left direction indicators, of a mechanism operatively connected to the indicators respectively, said mechanism having spring tcnsioned elentient-s. means for holding said elements set, end a single device connected to and operating said holding means to release either one of'the spring tensioned elements to perl holdin means to release either mit it to display its ndies operated by said si device either one or both. of said holding n 'e to their initial positions and return the in" dicators to their normal positions.

12. In trailic signal, the combination with right and left direction indicators, of tensioned member-s connected to said indicaters, holding elements for said members, and a single device for actuating either one of the elements to release its respective tensioned member, whereby the signal may be displayed. i

13. In a traffic signal, the combination with right and left direction indicatordof tensioned membersconnected to said indicators, holding elements for said members, and a single device for actuating either one of the elements to release its respective tens-ioned member, wherel'iy the signal may be displayed, and means actuated by said device for returning either one or both of the members in engagement with their holding elements.

ll. In a trafiic signal, the combination "with a right and left direction indicator, of tensioned members connected to said indi caters, holding elements for SZLlt'l DIQIHbEIS, and. a single device for actuating either one of the elements to release its respective tensioned member, whereby the signal may be displayed, and means actuated by said device for returning: either one-or both of the members in engagement with the'r holding elements. an audible signal an operating lever therefor, and means connected to said lever and operated by the single device to sound the audible signal prior to the actuation of either of the holding elements.

In testimony whereof l hereunto atlix my signature. 

